Roethlisberger did not speak publicly, and coach Mike Tomlin left practice early for a meeting he had to attend away from the Steelers' facility, so he was unavailable to answer questions.

That left the quarterback's teammates to speak, and they were not bashful.

Most said Roethlisberger looked to be in good shape, and that he did nothing special on his first day back since he last practiced with them during the first two spring drills April 19-20.

A week later, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Roethlisberger for the first four to six games of the season for his actions in the early morning of March 5 in Georgia, where a woman accused him of sexual assault. Authorities there decided not to charge him with a crime, but issued a scathing report on his activities.

"He was excited to get back, happy to be back in the fold, if you will," said defensive end Brett Keisel, one of Roethlisberger's closest friends on the team.

"He said he had butterflies this morning, he's excited to go to work and get back around the guys and start working toward another championship."

Byron Leftwich, who had been running the first-team offense since he was acquired in a trade before the draft, had a previous commitment and did not practice Tuesday. It remains to be seen who will run the first team when Leftwich returns, likely today. As usual, Dennis Dixon ran with the second team and Charlie Batch the third.

Dixon said he was not surprised that Roethlisberger ran the first team, even as the Steelers prepare a quarterback to replace him for the first four-to-six games of the season.

"No, not at all. That is Ben, he's been there and done that. I'm not worried about that. I'm just trying to get better every day."

Linebacker Larry Foote, himself repatriated with the Steelers after a year playing for the Detroit Lions, believes some of the harsh criticism of Roethlisberger the past three months was unwarranted. He cited in particular charges that Roethlisberger is not a team leader and not a good teammate.

"As far as the teammates in locker room, that's ridiculous," Foote said. "You don't win two Super Bowls and have a winning percentage without sacrificing and giving something up. As far as a leader, game in and game out, you don't see that many quarterbacks sticking it in there and giving his body up for the team. He puts it on the line every week. Just that alone, we have respect and admiration for him.

"He's a good, high-quality guy in the locker room. Everybody makes mistakes, and you have to learn from it. I feel bad the black eye he's getting from this and people just throwing stones at him."

Tuesday marked another step in the progress the Steelers and Roethlisberger hope to make.

"When he wasn't here, it felt like something was missing," Keisel said. "So it's great to have him back working with everyone, and now we can all move forward."

Roethlisberger still has hills to climb.

Goodell last week approved of his return to the team after reviewing the behavior evaluation he had ordered for the quarterback. Goodell also said he would reduce Roethlisberger's six-game suspension to four if he follows the path the commissioner laid out for him. There also remains an active civil suit filed against him in Nevada by a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her.

"It's no question it's been challenging," Keisel said. "It's definitely going to test the measure of a man where he goes from here. Hopefully, greatness is in his future."
You can't hit, but ...

The NFL prohibits hitting in spring practices, but does punching a teammate count?

Rookie receiver Antonio Brown and second-year cornerback Keenan Lewis traded a nice exchange of punches to each other's facemask following a play in practice.

The eruption came after Brown blocked Lewis. Both players pushed each other's facemask and then came the punches.

"It's just competitive nature," said Brown, a spunky sixth-round draft pick from Central Michigan. "Guys are fighting, there's high intensity. But we're all on the team. We're all Steelers."

Veterans told the two to be smarter about it next time.

"I could have broken my hand," Brown said. "I felt I had a good block on him and I think he was mad because I had good position. But, at the end of the day, I take the blame."

Ben Roethlisberger is expected to join his teammates at the Pittsburgh Steelers practice facility today as the team enters its final two weeks of offseason training activities.

Roethlisberger was cleared to return to the Steelers last week by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell had ordered the quarterback to undergo a behavioral evaluation on April 21 as part of the terms of his six-game suspension by the league without pay for violating its personal-conduct policy.

Goodell has reserved the right to reduce or extend Roethlisberger's suspension based on the quarterback's behavior or continued compliance with the terms of his suspension.

Today will be the first time Roethlisberger has worked out at the Steelers' facility since the team's opening week of voluntary workouts mid-April. Today may also be the first day in which he fields questions from the media regarding the suspension.

Roethlisberger had not been permitted to participate in any team activities, including a mandatory mini-camp, since Goodell suspended him and ordered a behavioral evaluation in the wake of allegations the quarterback sexually assaulted a 20-year-old college student in Georgia in March. No charges were filed in the case.

With Roethlisberger missing, veteran Byron Leftwich, acquired via a draft-day trade with Tampa Bay, has taken most of the snaps with the first-team offense.

Roethlisberger will be permitted to work out with the team at its training camp at Saint Vincent College, which will begin in late July, and also participate in preseason games. But once the regular season begins, he will again be banned from the Steelers' practice facility until his suspension is completed.

PITTSBURGH — A slimmed-down Ben Roethlisberger whistled practice passes to his receivers for the first time in five weeks, and a teammate didn’t need to watch video tape to know what he’d just seen.

“He’s been working hard at home,” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “He wants to be great this year. So, hopefully, he will (be).”

Even if considerable repair work needs to be done, on the field and off it.

The two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback didn’t talk to reporters after practicing Tuesday for the first time since drawing a six-game suspension April 21 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The penalty resulted from a Georgia college student’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her in a nightclub, and though Roethlisberger does not face criminal charges in the case, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the quarterback’s drinking and carousing failed to meet the league’s expectations for player behavior.

Roethlisberger took part in voluntary practices April 19 and 20, but was barred from working out again until he underwent a league-ordered behavioral evaluation and was cleared by Goodell to resume team activities. The commissioner still hasn’t decided if Roethlisberger’s suspension will be reduced to four games.

The consensus among Roethlisberger’s teammates: Good to have him back, now let’s move on – even if they realize that can’t possibly happen for months.

“We’re all trying to get over this. I think we’re all already over this. We want to get ready for the season,” said lineman Willie Colon, the only Steelers teammate known to have been with Roethlisberger the night of the incident in Georgia back in early March.

“We’ve got a lot of people we got to knock down. Our focus is being world champs again, and that’s where we’re all headed to.”

Roethlisberger, wearing a white No. 7 jersey atop a yellow practice shirt, took all the snaps with the starters during the

90-minute practice, partly because Byron Leftwich had a previously scheduled commitment and missed the voluntary practice.

Coach Mike Tomlin also departed early for the same reason and didn’t answer questions.

The only noticeable difference in Roethlisberger since those earlier practices is the weight he’s dropped, several players said.

“He’s been on the treadmill a little bit,” Colon said. “He’s trying to get a beach body on.”

Leftwich is expected to divide training camp snaps with Roethlisberger as the Steelers prepare one quarterback to start the season and a suspended quarterback to take over sometime in October.

No NFL team has gone through such a scenario before starting a season, and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El cautioned it won’t be easy.

“It’s very delicate, and I don’t know how they’re going to do it,” Randle El said. “It’s a tricky situation. But you’ve got to come up with a plan and work it.”

Roethlisberger can take part in training camp and play in exhibition games, but will be barred from all team activities once his suspension begins at the start of the season.

He has spoken only once since being accused of assault in Milledgeville, Ga. – when he read a brief statement on April 12. A team spokesman offered no explanation for Roethlisberger’s decision not to talk on Tuesday.

Still, Roethlisberger seemed to smile more than usual while practicing, and backup quarterback Dennis Dixon said it was evident this wasn’t a routine day.

“He was excited, and that’s what you wanted,” Dixon said. “He loves what he does, and getting back on the field, it was great to see his familiar face.”

Randle El is convinced Roethlisberger has undergone considerable soul searching the past three months and is determined to become a better person.

“Any time you go through something, it makes you step back and take a look and evaluate, who you’re hanging around with and who you’re involved with. It makes you do a little bit of an evaluation of your life,” Randle El said.

However, the accusation – plus a separate lawsuit accusing Roethlisberger of sexual assault in Nevada – has visibly angered and disappointed the Steelers’ huge fan base, with many saying they’ll never feel the same way about the franchise again until Roethlisberger is gone. His merchandise sales have plummeted, and some business owners say they can’t give away his jerseys.

Regardless, his teammates are offering Roethlisberger any support he wants, Randle El said. They hope that the public eventually comes around, too.

“We’ve all been through different things, we’ve all made different mistakes,” Randle El said. “When you make those mistakes, as a player, as a friend, as anybody, you’ve got to have forgiveness in your heart. To be able to forget and move on, that’s the kind of thing you have to do and expect. Not just from players but from friends and family, and even everybody that was involved. Everybody makes mistakes, but you can’t hold onto it for life.”

slashsteel

06-02-2010, 05:46 AM

Linebacker Larry Foote, himself repatriated with the Steelers after a year playing for the Detroit Lions, believes some of the harsh criticism of Roethlisberger the past three months was unwarranted. He cited in particular charges that Roethlisberger is not a team leader and not a good teammate.

"As far as the teammates in locker room, that's ridiculous," Foote said. "You don't win two Super Bowls and have a winning percentage without sacrificing and giving something up. As far as a leader, game in and game out, you don't see that many quarterbacks sticking it in there and giving his body up for the team. He puts it on the line every week. Just that alone, we have respect and admiration for him.

:Cheers Uhuh media take that !

stlrz d

06-02-2010, 07:35 AM

Linebacker Larry Foote, himself repatriated with the Steelers after a year playing for the Detroit Lions, believes some of the harsh criticism of Roethlisberger the past three months was unwarranted. He cited in particular charges that Roethlisberger is not a team leader and not a good teammate.

"As far as the teammates in locker room, that's ridiculous," Foote said. "You don't win two Super Bowls and have a winning percentage without sacrificing and giving something up. As far as a leader, game in and game out, you don't see that many quarterbacks sticking it in there and giving his body up for the team. He puts it on the line every week. Just that alone, we have respect and admiration for him.

:Cheers Uhuh media take that !

It's more than just the media who need to "take that". :D

Oviedo

06-02-2010, 07:52 AM

Linebacker Larry Foote, himself repatriated with the Steelers after a year playing for the Detroit Lions, believes some of the harsh criticism of Roethlisberger the past three months was unwarranted. He cited in particular charges that Roethlisberger is not a team leader and not a good teammate.

"As far as the teammates in locker room, that's ridiculous," Foote said. "You don't win two Super Bowls and have a winning percentage without sacrificing and giving something up. As far as a leader, game in and game out, you don't see that many quarterbacks sticking it in there and giving his body up for the team. He puts it on the line every week. Just that alone, we have respect and admiration for him.

:Cheers Uhuh media take that !

It's more than just the media who need to "take that". :D

You are right. Include self righteous fans who jumped on the Ben "hate wagon" and couldn't wait to be part of the lynch mob.

RuthlessBurgher

06-02-2010, 07:27 PM

Linebacker Larry Foote, himself repatriated with the Steelers after a year playing for the Detroit Lions, believes some of the harsh criticism of Roethlisberger the past three months was unwarranted. He cited in particular charges that Roethlisberger is not a team leader and not a good teammate.

"As far as the teammates in locker room, that's ridiculous," Foote said. "You don't win two Super Bowls and have a winning percentage without sacrificing and giving something up. As far as a leader, game in and game out, you don't see that many quarterbacks sticking it in there and giving his body up for the team. He puts it on the line every week. Just that alone, we have respect and admiration for him.

:Cheers Uhuh media take that !

It's more than just the media who need to "take that". :D

You are right. Include self righteous fans who jumped on the Ben "hate wagon" and couldn't wait to be part of the lynch mob.

There are ways of telling whether he is a rapist.

Are there? Oh well, tell us.

Tell me. What do you do with rapists?

Burn them.

And what do you burn, apart from rapists?

More rapists!

Wood.

Good. Now, why do rapists burn?

...because they're made of... wood?

Good. So how do you tell whether he is made of wood?

Build a bridge out of him.

But can you not also build bridges out of stone?

Oh yeah.

Does wood sink in water?

No, no, it floats!... It floats! Throw him into the Monongahela River!

No, no. What else floats in water?

Bread.

Apples.

Very small rocks.

Cider.

Gravy.

Cherries.

Mud.

Churches.

Lead! Lead!

A Duck.

...Exactly. So, logically...

If he weighed the same as a duck... he's made of wood.

And therefore...

...A rapist!

fordfixer

06-02-2010, 11:18 PM

Linebacker Larry Foote, himself repatriated with the Steelers after a year playing for the Detroit Lions, believes some of the harsh criticism of Roethlisberger the past three months was unwarranted. He cited in particular charges that Roethlisberger is not a team leader and not a good teammate.

"As far as the teammates in locker room, that's ridiculous," Foote said. "You don't win two Super Bowls and have a winning percentage without sacrificing and giving something up. As far as a leader, game in and game out, you don't see that many quarterbacks sticking it in there and giving his body up for the team. He puts it on the line every week. Just that alone, we have respect and admiration for him.

:Cheers Uhuh media take that !

It's more than just the media who need to "take that". :D

You are right. Include self righteous fans who jumped on the Ben "hate wagon" and couldn't wait to be part of the lynch mob.

There are ways of telling whether he is a rapist.

Are there? Oh well, tell us.

Tell me. What do you do with rapists?

Burn them.

And what do you burn, apart from rapists?

More rapists!

Wood.

Good. Now, why do rapists burn?

...because they're made of... wood?

Good. So how do you tell whether he is made of wood?

Build a bridge out of him.

But can you not also build bridges out of stone?

Oh yeah.

Does wood sink in water?

No, no, it floats!... It floats! Throw him into the Monongahela River!

No, no. What else floats in water?

Bread.

Apples.

Very small rocks.

Cider.

Gravy.

Cherries.

Mud.

Churches.

Lead! Lead!

A Duck.

...Exactly. So, logically...

If he weighed the same as a duck... he's made of wood.

And therefore...

...A rapist!
:lol: :lol: :lol: I love Monty Python

RuthlessBurgher

06-03-2010, 10:12 AM

I love Monty Python

The "What else floats in water?" suggestions get me every time. "Very small rocks" is a killer. "Churches" is classic as well. "Cider, Gravy"...it's all good. :lol: